Faithful on Fridays Blog

Sometimes I think we’re taught so often about God’s sovereignty, which is absolute, we forget we can argue our legal case before Him. King Hezekiah shows us that sometimes God changes His mind.

As this next layer of the plot thickens the king is at the point of death due to an infection. It’s not by coincidence either; Satan needed a new strategy and found one similar to when God allowed him to afflict Job; now he has permission to afflict Hezekiah with a premature death. At the same time we acknowledge God’s sovereignty we can’t miss the outcome of this story: God changed His mind. 

Isaiah gave Hezekiah the verdict of death from God, “Get everything ready, you will die … you won’t recover.” The king’s response? He got alone with God, face to face. Hezekiah was undoubtedly making his case before the Sovereign King of Creation. 

Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord. Isaiah 1:18

Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Isaiah 41:21

Put Me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. Isaiah 43:26

As God changed His mind when Moses (Ex. 32:11-14) made his case, Hezekiah, acting as Satan’s opposing counsel, pleaded for mercy from the Sovereign Judge. He prayed in humility (Is. 38:2-3), crying out for God to remember his walk of faithfulness, dedication, and good works. Yes, good works. Hezekiah’s reasons, as he argued his case, moved God to change His mind about his immanent death. There’s an upper story there we can’t miss. It’s OK to debate or even argue with God as long as you humbly submit to His sovereignty and final decision. He has the last word.

God instructed Isaiah to reassure the king that He’s heard his tearful prayer and, therefore, reviewed his case resulting in an amended decision: an additional 15 years of life. He called Himself the God of David reminding us of the Messianic covenant; His throne must for continue until the Messiah appears. This must’ve seemed so radical to Hezekiah that he boldly insisted on a miraculous sign to prove the prophetic word. Not only did God give a sign but allowed Hezekiah to choose which one: the sun’s shadow to go backward or forward; that’s undeniable proof. 

After the sign was completed Hezekiah wrote out his personal testimony as he reviewed his life: Death is inevitable but God is in control, He loves us, delivers us, and answers our prayers sometimes in the midst of suffering. Hezekiah remembered that ‘God casts our sin behind His back’ (Is. 38:17) and that’s also our reminder today. Regardless of your past He forgives a repentant heart listening to our case as we argue it; so go ahead and give Him your reasons, make your case in His courtroom of prayer, and wait for His sovereign decision.